Avant Gardner Ousts CEO Josh Wyatt as Brooklyn Mirage Reopening Falters

Avant Gardner, the parent company of Brooklyn Mirage, has parted ways with CEO Josh Wyatt amid ongoing delays in the venue's long-awaited reopening, Billboard reports. Gary Richards, the company’s non-executive chairman, will oversee daily operations effective immediately.

Wyatt, the former head of collaborative workspace giant NeueHouse, joined Avant Gardner as CEO in October 2024. Richards, the founder of the beloved HARD Events brand who also tours as the renowned DJ and producer Destructo, brings decades of industry experience to the interim role.

The leadership change comes after a turbulent period for Wyatt and the beleaguered East Williamsburg venue, a cornerstone of New York’s EDM scene. Following an ambitious renovation project, it was slated to reopen May 1st with a performance by techno superstar Sara Landry.

The venue, however, reportedly failed to secure necessary permits and final compliance from building inspectors before ultimately shelving all subsequent shows and postponing the relaunch indefinitely. Wyatt had vowed to address head-on the Mirage's oft-maligned pain points, like overcrowding and safety concerns, among others.

"Trust, transparency and accountability are the three key words in my moral compass," Wyatt told EDM.com in a February interview. "I have pushed those three words down into the fiber of the company to ensure that employees understand that these are key expectations I have as CEO."

Avant Gardner has not publicly commented on the leadership transition or the venue’s reopening timeline at press time.